The on-line museum of North America's independent department stores. The museum holds all sorts of information about classic department stores which either no longer exist, or are changed beyond recognition. A few of them are still with us, and provide an interesting connection to North America's retail past. The others are presented so that they may be properly remembered as a tangible part of the lives of their customers, shopping destinations where memories were often made.

94 comments:

Does anybody remember the Christmas display Snowman that was downtown Strouss in Younstown in the 1960-1970's?? What was his name??? We have the pics of the Santa that was there for many years and I used to remember the Snowmans name and I cant remember it now. Someone used to sit inside and talk to the kids.

The grill on the' first floor Commerce Street side of the downtown Youngstown Strouss-Hirshberg flagship store was a bustling place that served an excellent counter lunch. The store and downtown were once dynamic places in my youth. Alas, Youngstown has fallen on difficult times!

My grandfather purchased a Maxfield Parrish print of Ecstasy sometime during the 1940's. There is a Strouss Hirshberg Co gold sticker on the reverse side. Did this store have a well-known art section during that period?

My Mom, Amy (Kern)Winger worked at Strouss downtown Youngstown around 1955-1958. She was a stenographer and did data processing. She fed cards with holes punched into a computer which was as big as a room and weighed a ton. What a difference from the hand held computers, pocket sized calculators and I PADS etc of today! Technology has come a long way. She now lives in Conneaut Ohio. I think I will take her for a drive down memory lane for a Mothers's Day gift. A gift that can't be bought at a store or on line.

Amy W. I may have worked with your Mom. I worked in the office on the 6th floor in 1957. I was a stenographer also and I worked on that computer you speak of. Although it was huge, it was not, as I remember as big as a room! But I bet it did weigh a ton. Next time you see your mom ask her if she remembers me. I also worked with Mary Ann Yablonsky and Fleta Coombs. They both were billers. And in the mail room, I remember an older lady Mary Walsh! I took dictation from our manager, Mr. Chabot (I think that was how he spelled his name). Fun memories!

I am almost certain there was a Strouss' Department Store in Liberty Plaza in Liberty (suburb of Youngstown). Can anyone confirm this? I recently drove by the plaza and it has been torn down and replaced with big box retail.

Yes, Liberty Plaza Strouss'was there until the mid 80's when Kauffman's took over and consolidated locations. It was expanded from the original store to the adjacent Stambaugh Thompson space in the 70's but always a small store compared to the mall stores. I even remember the phone number if anyone cares-- 759-1622!

The Strouss Malt machine was purchased when The Downtown Yo store was closed and has been making its appearance at the Canfield Fair. I understand you can buy it somewhere around Poland. Does ayone know where??

could someone just get the malt recipe? I live in Columbus and have been dying for one of those malts for years. My grandmother had worked for Strouss in the receiving depart for many years. I have her beautiful coats with her name and Strouss' name in it. I get so many compliments when I wear these antique coats with hat and gloves and purse to match. I sure do miss that store!.PP

"Anonomous" - yes, there was a Strouss at Liberty Plaza. I lived on Euclid, 2 blocks away and would walk or ride my bike to the Liberty Plaza many times a day in the summer just for something to do. Strouss was on the side of the plaza where Montgomery Wards and the movie theater was. I moved away in the 1970s, I hadn't been home for years, came home and went past The Liberty Plaza and didn't recognize it as I knew it.

Hi I was wondering if anyone knows about a flamingo water painting and if I could get a price check or an idea of how to get ahold of someone that could help me on value. Please contact me at kurtdawg91@aol.com

My grandfather did the window store displays for the downtown Youngstown department store before and after the war. We have a box of some the of display designs and national awards he received. We'd be happy to provide copies for the archives. Who should we contact?

I have an Elf that sits on a 6 ft red ladder for Christmas in the store's display. My parents neighbor last name Hendricks use to help do the displays. He passed away before I was born.(1949)His wife Rose gave my parents the elf & ladder in the early 50s we had it up by the tree every year. I still put him up every Christmas. Does anyone remember seeing him in a window display at Christmas?

As my daughter just commented, my father, Earle Pratt was the display director at Strouss for may years. He did ther floor layout for New Castle, Austintown and Southern Park. I would go to town every weekend and ride the elevator up past the 6th loor to the display department. There MaryAnn would use the manual machine to print out all the store's signs. Al Very would hand paint the word Strouss on them since the machine was not capable of printing cursive. Eddie Kline worked in the paint department. Twice a year my father would leave town going to Chicago and New York City to buy displays for all the stores. As for the malts- I loved the origional malts when they were sold under the stairs in the basement. After it was moved from there I feel the malts changed to include what we know today as a malted milkball flavor. I have several photographs, ribbons and awards, both national and international that my father won for his window displays. My mother, Mary Jane Peterson Pratt worked in the squares on the first floor where she met my father. I can be contacted at themothermold@yahoo.com Linda Pratt Joyce

I get the "pleasure" of working in the building every day as it currently stands. The building has undergone several changes from what it originally looked like and several of the floors have been abandoned and have come to be in a very dilapidated state. The 7th and 8th floors are completely unused as well as the basement. Most areas that are unused are blocked off and inhabitable. Would have been interesting to see what the building looked like in its "heyday"

I now live in CA but grew up living on Goldie Rd,our backyard was adjacent to what is now Walmart. Yes I remember Strouss Liberty Plaza very well,also think of those malts downtown all the time,My aunt Lillian took me there when I was just several years of age.I never thought anyone would remember those malts but me!! Wish we could go back in time!

Does anyone know what happened to the model train layout that Strouss' had in their toy department at Christmas time. When I was a kid in the early 50's I would go shopping with my mother and sister at Christmas , I would spend most of the time watching the employees of the toy department run that layout. I was hopeing that they donated it to the Arms Museum or some other orginization rather than tear it down

I worked in the Strouss Liberty location for four years 1976 to 1980. I was in the Shoe Department, Young Men's and Men's. We had a supervisor named Mrs. Guarnieri I believe. Boy, did we have fun then!

Does anyone know (and if so, please describe) the type of glass or paper cup that the Strouss malts were served in? I seem to remember that they came with a flat wooden spoon, (maybe a straw - too far back to remember), but cannot remember much else except they sure were delicious. As I recall the price was 15c, but this probably would have changed over the years. How many years was the Strouss Malt Shop in operation? I am thinking from at least the 1940s or 1950s ??? I am trying to reconstruct an old malt shop and need this information. Thanks for whatever help you can extend.

A fairly reliable source informed me that the malts were served in a small glass (fruit juice size - about 6 ounces) with a silver spoon. I believe the malts were sold until the store closed in 1986, but it would be nice to know what year the malts were first sold. My source thought the price was 10c each, but I recall them being 15c. I imagine the price gradually increased, so we are probably both correct. Any other information regarding the malts, or the details or pictures of the department, will be greatly appreciated. I am constructing a vintage malt shop and 50s soda bar inside a small museum in Canfield, Ohio and am looking for as much information as possible. Please see www.tpcarcollection.com or www.tipcars.us for car museum location and photos.

I found out from a fairly reliable source that the malts were served in a small clear glass about the size of a 6 ounce orange juice glass, along with a small silver spoon. It is my understanding that the malts were sold until 1986 when the downtown Youngstown Strouss' store closed. What I really need is the approximate date that the malt shop was opened ???

I am constructing a vintage malt shop and a 50s soda bar inside a museum in Canfield, Ohio and am looking for this information for authenticity purposes. I am 82 years of age and while I had the malts on rare occasions, cannot remember all of the details.

I worked there 1964 and 1965 through the Jingle Bell program on the 5th floor in Linens. I'd love to have one of those pecan rolls they used to sell, I'll be 67 in a couple of weeks and have been trying to find pecan rolls that taste like them. They're whip cream cake was also great!

I walked downtown many times from my house on Erie St and always loved seeing the model train display at XMAS at Strouss. Does anyone know whether the Strouss girls who went to Liberty HS were relatives? I believe they were Elaine and Stanine Strouss? Also, to the person from Chalmers, I wonder if we know each other?? Does anyone remember Lustig's Florsheim Shoes?

Yes there was a store in Salem. I paid over $50 for a pair of navy blue sandal type heels with my first pay check from Loves Pastries.Back in 1966-67. My parents were shocked but they were my favorites..That was one pair of expensive shoes then!!!

I have a wrist watch with monogram initials SHC (Strouss Hirshberg Company) engraved on the back. My husband's aunt worked for Strouss for many years. I believe it might have been an anniversary watch for years of work. Comments appreciated.

ihe really remember going into strouss as a little boy .i remember going to have bbq sandwhiches there.the most thing i remember going in the parkingdeck i would beg my mother to take me threwv it .it was sad to see it torn down !what made it cool was the ramp on the side .And the southern park resteraunt on the top floor ,i do notremember the name of it.

The original Strouss Malt machine is at the Jay's Hot Dog's on 422 in Camel near 4 Seasons Flea Market. It took me awhile, but I found it. I took my cousin there about 3 years ago when she came back to Youngstown for a quick visit. They taste exactly the same as I remember from the 60's. Now I want one! Enjoy!

Downtown Saturday matinee - summertime - 1968 - by 6pm it was a ghost town - waiting for Teds dad to come get us 4 kids-we were 14 - either Mckelveys or Strouss' street level display window had a tall upright lamp that fell against a mannequin-heavy smoke as the nearby drape and mannequin's clothing were about to burst into flames-we panicked with no money to use the payphone to call the fire department ! I found a penney in my pocket and "popped " it - that is you drop it in the phone and strike the coin return button at the same time - it trips the payphone circuit and gives a dial tone - after 15 or 20 desperate tries - success ! The fire department comes and we think the mayor is gonna give us a medal . We get yelled at for not calling sooner ! I saved the building ! I saved downtown ! One of many cool adventures growing up in a magic kingdom......

This brings the good and positive old days when Youngstown Ohio was booming with businesses and Downtown was like how Southern Park and Eastwood malls are today If these politicians were smart they would bring Downtown back to her glory rumor has it that they are trying to add a if not some hotels by the Convelli Center they should they could even add a mall by the center as well so Downtown Youngstown can be magical again

Was trying to remember the name of the theater that was inside the Eastwood mall in Niles, .Ohio in 1980. We saw "The Empire Strikes Back" Great movie . couldn't find anything in the archives. Would greatly appreciate the theater name and some of the stores that were next to it.

I worked in the Advertising Dept. that was on the 7th floor as a typesetter producing the ads. I was hired right out of high school (Rayen). Martha Schurhammer hired me. Does anyone know if she's still living?

I worked in the JET(Junior Executive Training) program at the downtown Strouss in 1968 and then at the Boardman Plaza location, onto Southern Park Mall when it opened and finally Eastwood before leaving in 1971. The president of the stores then was Fred Gronvall. (sp)

I worked in "Strouss' Mgmt training program" from 1978-1985. (Downtown,Shenango,Eastwood) In downtown the buyers and assistant buyers offices were little hidden places behind the walls of each department. The Mens Sportwear-Separates buyer's office was on the Mezzanine, behind the Employee cafeteria. The ceilings were only 78" high.Does anyone remember the Mens Auditorium Sales?

Does anyone remember the basement in the Warren store? It had a room I think was called The Way out? It was very psychedelic and 60ish. Black lights and was very cool. The juniors clothing was down there also.

About Me

Born in 1958 into an American family with deep Polish roots, I was encouraged at an early age to take education wherever I could get it. I was taken across the country as a child, by my first-generation American parents, to see the wonders of our continent, and several World's Fairs which my parents felt would be educational and fun for our family. All of these things have affected my life in so many ways since then. I achieved a couple of degrees in architecture, and attained licensure in 1990. My specialty in the field is creative design, for which I have received a number of awards and accolades. I am happily married for the second time. I experienced the sadness and pain of being a widower after my first wife passed away suddenly in 1996. I would not be telling the truth if I did not mention how central my Roman Catholic faith was in negotiating such a difficult time. It still is, in fact. I work for Fieldstone A&E and, my free time is spent, learning, researching, writing, cooking, traveling, taking photographs, ballroom dancing, and enjoying my relationship with my wife and family with whom I am extraordinarily close.